Brake-actuating device



(.,No Model.)

R. T. SMITH.

BRAKE AGTUATING DEVICE.

N0. 446,935. Patented Feb. 24, 1891.

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UNITED STATES PATE-INT OFFICE.

vROSVELL rl. SMITH, OF NASIIUA, NEWT HAMPSHIRE.

BRAKE-ACTUATING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,935, dated February24:, 1891.

Application iled November 18, 1890. Serial No. 371,852. (No model.)

To all whom, mcty concern:

Be it known that I, RosWELL T. SMITH, ofi Nashua, 1n the county ofHillsborough andv State of New Hampshire, have invented eertain new anduseful Improvements in Brake- Actuating Devices, of whichthc followingis a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide means for setting brakes fromsome rotating part, as the axle of a railway-car, and to enable theapplication of the brake to be controlled by a slight force, as the pullof an electro-magnet.

rlhe invention consists in the devices hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have shown convenientembodiments of my invention as applied to a railway-car, Figure l is asectional elevation of aportion of a cartruck. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofa portion ot' the same. Fig. 3 is a detail View of a different form ofone part of the arrangement shown in Fig. l, and Fig. et is a detail.

In carrying my invention into practice upon railway-cars I place looselyupon the axle l a drum 2 between a fixed collar 3 and alongitudinally-movable collare. Lock-nuts 5 are provided to act upon thecollar 4, whereby the frictional contact between the drum and the axleor its collars can be regulated. The brake-bar 6, having the brake-shoe7, is as usual. A flexible connection S, preferably a rope having a`core SX of spring-steel, (see Fig. 4,) is attached to the brake-bar,and is passed with two or more turns about the drum 2. lVhile theconnector 8 remains slack there will be no friction between it and thedrum, and the brake-bar will not be moved to set the brake. Thespring-core of the connector tends to keep the coils of the connectorfree from the drum, and the encompassing concentric shield 30 (shown inFig. l) co-operates with the spring-core to insure the freedom of thecoils from thev drum at all points about the circumference.

A slight pull upon the free end of the eonnector 8 sufficient toovercome the resilience of the core will produce great friction betweent-he connector and the drum, and if continued the brake will be set withgreat force. Then the brake is fully set, the friction between the drumand the collars on the axle `will be overcome and the drum will cease torotate, thereby preventing the breakage of any of the parts. The means Ihave shown in Figs. l and 2 for producing this necessary pull upon theconnector 8 are as follows: To the end of the connector 8 is secured asecond connector 9, preferably a strap, which is passed loosely7 about awheel l0 upon a shaft ll and secured atany convenient point. The shaftll is rotated continuously, being driven by any convenient means, as thebelt 1G and pulleys 17, from the axle l. Normally there is notsufficient friction between the belt 9 and wheel l0 to overcome theresilience of the spring-wire in the coils about the drum 2;

, but. if the belt be pressed against the wheel at one point thefriction will b e increased sufficiently to give the necessary pull uponthe connector S. To exert this pressure I employ an idler l2, mountedupon a lever 13, the lower end of which forms or bears the armature ofan electro-magnet 1l, which may be under the control of the engineer ofthe train or the operator of the machine.

In Fig. l I have shown but one wheel lO and connected parts; but it willbe understood that in order to apply the brake, whether the car bemoving in one direction or t-he other, it will be necessary to attach tothe brakebar 'a second connector 8, which is passed about the drum, asshown, in a direction opposite to that of the irst connector, and isprovided with its own belt, wheel, lever, and magnet, similar to thoseshown.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a second drum 2, fixed upon the axle, which maybe provided with the connectors and other parts (shown in Fig. l) foruse in emergencies.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a device for tautening the connector 8 which onsome accounts is preferable to that shown in Fig. l. The free end of theconnector is secured to a second connector 2 which is a ratcheted barsliding in a guide 22, and having at one end a slot 23 to receive a pin2i, carried by a plunger 25. l The plunger moves' in a bracket 26, andforms or bears the armature of an electro-magnet 2S, under control ofthe engineer or operator. Normally the bar is held in the position shownby a spring 27; but when the magnet is energized the bar is drawn intocontact with a toothed disk 29, and

IOO

frictionally held by the collar 29X upon the shaft ll, which may berotated, as de=cribod with reference to Figs. l and It will be seen thatby the construction shown in Fig. l and by that shown in Fig. lY theconnector S is first tautened and then is held tant, the slack beingtaken up as fast as it. is paid out by the rotation ot the drum 2, andthe brake-bar is drawn toward the wheels until the wheel ceases torotate or the d rum 2 slips upon its shaft.

In the described application of my invexr tion I have shown the drum asmounted upon the shaft or axle bearing the wheels upon which the brakeis applied; but it is obvious that it might be mounted upon any rotatingshaft.

I claiml. The combination of a lnake-bar, a rotating drum, as 2, atiexible connector attached to said bar and passed loosely about saiddrinn, whereby said drum normally may rotate freely without altcctingsaid connector, and means to exert a pull upon the free end of saidconnector to increase the friction bctween the same and the drum,substantially as described.

2. The combination of a brake-bar, a rotating drum, a ilexible resilientconnector attached to said bar and passed about said drum, and means toexert a pull upon the free end of said connector, substantially asdescribed.

Si. The combination of abrakebar, a rotating drum, a flexible connectorattached to said bar and passed about said drum, a seeond connectorattached to the free end of said first-named connector, a rotatingwheel, and means l'or bringing said second connector into contact withsaid wheel, sul'istantially as dcscribed.

et. The combination of abrake-ba-r, a rotating drum, a flexibleconnector attached to said bar and passed about said dru m, a ratchetcdbarto which the free end of said connector is attached, a rotatingtoothed wheel, and means to cause the engagement of said bar with saidwheel, substantially as dcscribed.

5. The combination of a brake-bar, a rotating drum, a iiexible connectorattached to said bar and passed about said drum, a ratcheted bar towhich the free end of said connector is attached, a rotating toothedwheel, and a magnet to draw the bar into engagement with said wheel,substantially as described.

n witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand.

R()S\\'l 1lyly 'l`. SMITH.

Witnesses:

\\"1LLL\M l. GREELEY, 'Emmi-n) A. (insanity.

